Compare Dorchester car hire

Between the towns of Poole and Bridport, Dorchester is a historic town known for being the birthplace of the celebrated author Thomas Hardy. It also has two Iron Age forts – Poundbury Hill and Maiden Castle, thought to be the largest of its kind in Europe.

There’s even more to see in the surrounding Dorset countryside, from stately homes to scenic Jurassic Coast road trips.

There are a few hire car companies operating in Dorchester, including big names such as Enterprise and local providers like Dorset Vehicle Rentals.

Take a 25-minute taxi to Poole for another Enterprise branch and a company called U-Drive, while in Bournemouth – around 45 minutes from Dorchester – you’ll find Thrifty, Enterprise and Europcar. If you’re flying into Bournemouth Airport, which is less than an hour by road from Dorchester, you can pick up a hire car from Hertz.

As a small town, Dorchester is a breeze for motorists. There are plenty of parking options in the town. Fairfield Car Park has short- and long-stay parking, Colliton Car Park puts you close to Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, and Trinity Street has over 120 spaces and is a short walk from the Plaza Cinema. Just bear in mind that the centre is partly pedestrianised.

For day trips, join the A35, which skirts the southern edge of Dorchester, to visit the National Trust-owned Hardy’s Cottage, where the author was born and wrote his first novels.

Continue on the A35 to tour the Tudor mansion at Athelhampton House and Gardens. The next stop is Badbury Rings, the site of an Iron Age fort, and then its onto Kingston Lacy Estate with its spectacular avenue of beech trees. From here, it’s about 40 minutes back to Dorchester.

The A37 borders the west of Dorchester and cuts northwest to Yeovil. Off the main road, you’ll find hiking routes such as the Frome Valley Trail and the Cerne Valley Way circular walk.

One of the highlights in this neck of the woods is the B3157 between Weymouth and Bridport, which includes a 24km (15 miles) section of the Jurassic Coast – a World Heritage Site that spans some 185 million years of geological history. The route is consistently voted one of the best in the UK. There are blind bends along the way, so keep an eye on your speed (the limit is 50 mph and 30 mph in the villages).

Finally, don’t forget to pull over to admire the majestic sea views in one of the many lay-bys designed for this very purpose. Be sure to stop at the quaint village of Abbotsbury to visit St Catherine’s Chapel, as well as Burton Bradstock for a seafood lunch at the Hive Beach Café.

Fair fuel policy

A fair fuel policy (also known as full-to-full or same-to-same) means you’ll only pay for the fuel you use. All car rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket come with a fair fuel policy, so you can book your hire car safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty surprises at drop-off. More information on TravelSupermarket’s commitment to fair fuel policies can be found here.

No hidden fees

All rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (for example, one-way and young driver surcharges) in your rental quote at the time of booking, meaning you’ll know the full price of your car hire upfront.